This unintentionally obscene amuse-bouche was served during our recent dinner at L’Espalier, my favorite restaurant in Boston. We started with martinis (lemon twist for the Long-Suffering Husband, olives for me) and then the bodacious little bites appeared at the table:

Gives new meaning to the term AMUSE-bouche. These were rhubarb-flavored meringues, served with a mango-ginger shot.
I think they ought to build on this promising beginning and come up with an entire meal of amusements, a culinary comedy menu. An all-sex menu would also be good. I wrote in one of my stories about an aphrodisiac menu, but I like the comedy idea even better. They might try something along the lines of Brock Davis’ food art:
The problem is that, clever as they are, these culinary jokes are mainly visual. They don’t inspire one’s appetite. So it’s a challenge for any aspiring chef out there… but look what arrived next!
I loved the wit of that second amuse-bouche, a variety of sweet pastries refashioned as miniature savories. They were exquisite. The most delicious dish was this soup of yellow tomato, pattypan squash and other summer vegetables. A triumph!

Served with 2010 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs–utterly delicious and a favorite of mine in the sparkling category.
Next up, the salad of lettuces with compressed melon and wild rose, garnished with a lime-ginger sorbet. The little standing cylinder thing must be all the rage now. I’ve seen it done back home with hearts of palm.
Next was a coddled egg dish with chard and pine nuts, which I forgot to photograph. The alcohol was taking effect! I have recorded that it was served with Beaujolais, an interesting pairing for an egg dish. Then, a truffled risotto with asparagus, watercress and roasted tomato. All local produce, of course!
An excellent cheese plate containing a Loire chevrot from Poitou, Robiola a due latti from Piedmont, Barndance farmyard cheese from Massachusetts, tangy “Timberdoodle” semi-hard cheese from Vermont, and Point Reyes Bay Blue. The cheese was a highlight of the meal, but by this time I was dangerously full and very drunk.
Finally the dessert which also went unphotographed (sorry Simone!). I remember nothing of it, but according to the menu it was brandy pound cake with fresh peaches and lemon-thyme ice cream. Served with a 2007 Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, which I do remember quite distinctly.
They sent us on our way with a dainty macaron in cellophane to enjoy later. If you’re ever in Boston, this is a great place for a special occasion meal. I just hope you don’t end up with the hand-kissing waiter…
You know what I had for dinner? Toast. *sob*
Toast can be good! Toast with cheese, toast with marmalade and black tea, toast with mushroom gravy 🙂
I should not have read this just before lunch… it’s going to be a huge disappointment!
Brandy pound cake… you so do owe me a photo…
Hee, hee! I can’t believe we neglected the picture! It is the LSH’s fault. Drinking the same amount causes different levels of intoxication in us, so he should have remembered!
LOVE the presentation! Just gorgeous! And the nipple meringue things – they could be shaped like balls but I’d still devour them! Meringue… 😉
Also love that you got too tipsy to even remember dessert – I’m not Simone. I like that sort of thing 🙂
Thanks! Food like this costs a fortune, but a four-star meal every so often is worth while. It makes great memories. Sadly I had to go on a diet after I got back…
Hopefully wine is still part of the diet 😉
Yes, though I have had to scale back since it’s my biggest source of calories.
Probably mine too – I just try to work out more 😉
I just tried to look up the calories in a 5 oz. glass of wine. They say anything from 100-175. I can work off 300 calories in 40 minutes. Seems like a reasonable tradeoff for the extra glass 🙂
Definitely. I did my first push up burpees on Monday (don’t ask) – I still can’t move. Well, I can move to the fridge and back 😉
Pushups! OMG. Impossible for me. I don’t do crunches either because the pain is too extreme…
Tell me about it – and jump squats. Never again 😉
Woo hoo lady! What a meal….hilarious that the memory of dessert is blurry. I too have been in that state after a degustation meal with a motza of vino. Wish I hadn’t read how many calories were in a glass of wine though…I will unread that bit.
Yes, unread! Or, go with the estimate of 100, which is like half a candy bar. Oh no–unread, unread!
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